PHOENIX, AZ – The Phoenix Suns continued their scorching run, defeating the Portland Trail Blazers 109 – 88 on Monday night to extend their winning streak to four games. The victory, the team’s second-longest of the season, came courtesy of a dominant display, particularly in the second quarter, where they outscored Portland 35-18.
With tonight’s win, the Suns improve to 18-15 on the season, seeking to climb up the Western Conference standings. The sellout crowd of 17,071 marked the 99th-straight home game with a packed Footprint Center, encompassing both regular season and playoff games.
Defensive Lockdown Stifles Blazers Offense:
The Suns defense clamped down on the Blazers, holding them to a season-low 88 points. This dominant defensive effort marked the third time this season Phoenix has held an opponent to 20 points or less in a quarter, as they limited Portland to just 18 points in the second.
“I want to credit our bench,” said Suns head coach Frank Vogel. “I think it was that group in the second quarter with Bol (Bol), Chimezie (Metu) at the four, five, Bradley Beal and Eric Gordon and then Josh Okogie. He brought great defensive energy, hustle plays, strips, loose balls, all those types of things and we were getting a lot of stops and getting out on the break.”
Second-Quarter Surge Paves the Way:
After trailing by nine points after the first quarter, the Suns unleashed a 14-0 run in just over three minutes to take control of the game. The Suns reserves fueled the run, with Eric Gordon, Bol Bol, Josh Okogie, and Chimezie Metu all contributing key baskets. Phoenix never relinquished the lead from that point on.
Trailing 33-24 with 9:39 remaining in the first half, the Suns used a 14-0 run in just over three minutes to take a 38-33 lead. The Suns reserves accounted for 12 of the 14 points during the run, with Eric Gordon, Bol Bol, Josh Okogie and Chimezie Metu all chipping in. The Suns never trailed the rest of the game.
Balanced Scoring Effort Fuels Phoenix:
The Suns’ victory was a testament to their balanced offensive attack, with seven players reaching double figures in scoring. Jusuf Nurkić led the way with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Bradley Beal added 21 points on a night where Devin Booker’s streak of 20+ point games and 5+ assists ended at 13.
Other key contributors included Grayson Allen (12 points), Bol Bol (career-highs of 11 points and 9 rebounds), Chimezie Metu (14 points), and Eric Gordon (12 points).
Suns Look to Maintain Momentum:
With their winning streak extended, the Suns face a tough test in their next game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Clippers pose a significant challenge, and Phoenix will need to maintain their defensive intensity and offensive cohesion to secure another win. The Los Angeles Clippers currently hold the fourth standing in the Western Conference with a three-game winning streak.
“We still have to challenge ourselves to get better every game to be better. Our next game we are really going to be challenged to guard one-on-one because that’s what they love to do,” commented Suns guard, Bradley Beal, looking ahead to Wednesday night’s game, when the Phoenix Suns will face the Los Angeles Clippers.
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